Summer Camp 2013: From A to Bowey

This year’s development camp is far from Brandon Anderson’s first show in Washington, having signed an entry level deal in 2010 and attended three training camps. Photo by Alena Schwarz.

Each summer, the Capitals bring potential to the Washington D.C. area. While bigger names sprinkle the development camp rosters, many of them the average fan doesn’t know or might need a refresher on.

For your mid-summer hockey fix, here are some quick facts about the prospects skating this year at Kettler.

Brandon Anderson (#78)

Age: 20

Hometown: Langley, British Columbia

Position: Goalie

Acquired, how?: Signed as a free agent in September 2010

How you know him:

This year, Anderson spent his first professional season with the Capitals’ affiliates, primarily as a backup for Washington’s next goalie star, Philipp Grubauer. From the NHL lockout’s conclusion on January 6 to Kelly Cup MVP Riley Gill’s entry on February 27, Anderson won four of eight games with the Reading Royals as coach Larry Courville sought to replace a Grubauer-size hole in net. In 16 ECHL games, he posted a 3.18 goals-against-average and .876 save percentage. According to Elite Hockey Prospects, that GAA is the 20-year-old’s best regular season result dating back to his 2008-09 season with the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes.

While Anderson was assigned seven times to the Hershey Bears, he did not play a game.

Fun fact: His 21st birthday is Saturday!

Riley Barber (#44)

Age: 19

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Position: Right Wing

Acquired, how?: Drafted 167th overall in the 2012 NHL draft

How you know him:

While he didn’t get Captain America fame, Barber helped Team USA to their first gold in January since John Carlson’s 2010 World Junior Championship team, contributing six points (3g, 3a) in seven games. The five-foot-eleven forward described the moment as “pretty unbelievable,” even after hitting gold with the U18 team in 2012. Unfortunately that success did not carry over to his Miami RedHawks, as new conference foe St. Cloud State, bested Barber and his teammates in the second round of this year’s Frozen Four tournament.

That didn’t stop Barber from being named the now-defunct CCHA’s Rookie of the Year, leading the conference with 15 goals and coming in at second in total points (39) behind teammate Austin Czarnik (40).

Remember the draft nine days ago? Not the Swedish/Austrian guy, the next one. That’s this guy.

Coming off of his second full season WHL season, Bowey is becoming known for his offensive play. The six-foot defenseman came in at third in defensive scoring for the Kelowna Rockets, eleventh overall on the team (12g, 18a, 30pts). He was fifth on the team in plus/minus, ending the 2012-13 season at plus-41. And Bowey isn’t one afraid to mix it up a bit either. While his 75 PIMs don’t compare to teammate and Flyers 72nd overall pick Tyrell Goulbourne’s (135), they are enough to place him fourth on the Rockets. Yet considering the only other season he had more than 39 PIMs was in 2009-10 in the WCML and Bowey had only three fights this past season, he is far from a goon.